Friday, July 11, 2008

Noble Character


I was trying to look something up on eBible.com when I came across The Wife of Noble Character.
"She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls."
This verse has always been a source of spiritual consternation for me. I am not that woman, and it bothers me. Don't get me wrong. I work hard at being a good wife and mother, but I often wonder if I'm working hard enough, if I could be working harder.
I was mentally debating whether to commit this issue to God or not (read: Do I want to work on this or ignore it for as long as I can and only address the issue when it becomes absolutely necessary?) and decided to click on over to my old buddy Mr. Chambers.
The first line of today's devotion reads, "A [Christian] is not to take the initiative toward self-realization, but toward knowing Jesus Christ."
Self-serving? Perhaps. But it was a nice reminder of what my FIRST priority is, and, better yet, how God sees me mired in all my imperfections, through the loving eyes of a father. This is, quite possibly, the closest I have come to understanding who I am in Christ in a very long time.

4 comments:

Katie R. said...

If I'm really focusing on Jesus then, for me, the "other stuff" seems to fall into place easier than if I had focused on the "other stuff" initially.

Although I know this, my struggle seems to end up being that I forget this fact and focus on being a good ________ and then wonder why I keep messing up.

Good post, good reminder.

theswamphare said...

If you focus on Jesus you will find that it is He who is focused upon you. Remember, this is the Uncreated Being who made for us, the perfect world and gave His one son for our sake; for your sake and His only focus is Erin when she cries out to Him. Seek God and lighten up on yourself.

Carla said...

I was having "A Moment" yesterday. I had had it. I put on Kim Hill and as she sang You Are Still Holy I started to dance. I haven't done worship dance in years. Anyway, the tears began to fall and my kids stood there(not talking)as I worshiped. It was so awesome and I felt His peace. Sarah joined me in dance and I played song after song and changed the mood of the house.


We are in this together Erin. I love you.

Kara Jo said...

Good post, Erin. And good reminder to keep our eyes on Jesus, not on our own efforts to be good enough. I've wrestled with that verse myself. But I know that condemnation over it is never what God intends for me. (Or you!)